Missouri supporters of Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain were quick to fire off their assessments of the duo’s performances in tonight’s first presidential debate.

Surprise, surprise! McCain’s backers said that he won, while Obama’s allies said their man was the victor.

First, some of the pro-McCain statements:

Statement from Governor Matt Blunt

“Senator McCain was the clear victor in tonight’s debate. John McCain showed Missourians his leadership qualities and his experience on foreign policy which again highlighted Barack Obama’s weaknesses on this critical issue.

“John McCain also demonstrated that he is the only candidate for president who will address wasteful spending in Washington and help America become energy independent.

“We face difficult challenges abroad and here at home, and John McCain demonstrated he is the proven leader we need to meet those challenges.”

Statement from Senator Kit Bond, McCain Missouri State Co-Chair

“Senator Obama is trying to hamstring our troops with budget cuts. He wants to micro-manage our uniformed commanders in the field, and he is threatening the hard-earned American success the Petraeus plan has delivered on the ground. It is a recipe for American failure that we cannot afford to tolerate.”

Statement from Col. Jack Jackson, McCain Missouri State Co-Chair

“John McCain showed Missourians his leadership qualities tonight in the debate. We face difficult challenges at home with our financial market and abroad with the war against Islamic extremism. John McCain is the proven leader with the experience needed to bring solutions to these problems and help us win overseas.”

Now, some of the pro-Obama comments (the McCain folks were faster, so we’re still waiting for some of the Missouri Obama praise)

Statement from Obama co-chair, U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr.

“Tonight, Barack Obama showed the American people that he is the only candidate who is ready to make us stronger abroad and safer at home.  It’s clear that John McCain is content with clinging to the failed policies of the past eight years. That’s not the change that we need.  We need a President who is committed to making this economy work again for middle class families.  We need a President who is ready to restore America’s standing around the world.  And we need a President who is absolutely committed to responsibly ending the tragic war in Iraq, and refocusing our military might to win the real war on terror in Afghanistan. Barack Obama is the change that America needs.”

Statement from national Obama co-chair, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.

“John McCain is clearly focused on the past and defending the economic and foreign policies of the Bush Administration. What a clear contrast. Barack Obama has his eyes firmly on the future and how to help middle class families. He understands that we must quit spending 10 billion a month in Iraq while the Iraqi government runs up billions in surplus. And he showed his complete understanding of the threat of the Taliban and Al- Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanastan. Barack Obama is ready for this job.”

Missouri Democratic Party spokesman Jack Cardetti

“Tonight we saw the past versus the future. After invoking Dwight Eisenhower, Henry Kissinger and Alexander the Great it’s clear that John McCain is offering nothing but the stale policies of the past. McCain offered no new solutions about how we are going to keep Americans in their home, how we are going to lower the cost of health care, or how we are going to fix this economic crisis. John McCain is proposing nothing but more of the same failed policies of the Bush administration.”